IF you weren’t born with magically long eyelashes, then you know that sometimes even the thickest, most volumizing of mascaras can still leave your lashes looking a little sad and stubby.

And if you’ve already tried all the long-lash alternatives (eyelash extensions, lash lifts, falsies), you may want to get to the root of your problem and figure out how to grow your lashes, not just fake the length.

The growth cycle of your eyelashes consists of three phases: catagen (the dormant stage), telogen (the shedding stage), and anagen (the growth phase). It can take three months for your lashes to grow naturally.

There are a ton of natural ingredients (castor oil, vitamin E, and coconut oil) that help hydrate and condition your lashes, but they won’t technically make them grow.

“Lash conditioners may help strengthen lashes, prevent them from breaking, or lightly swell them so they look a little thicker,” says Ilyse Haberman, assistant professor of ophthalmology at NYU Langone, but they’re not actually causing them to grow longer.

There’s actually one FDA-approved eyelash growth serum called Latisse, so if you’re really trying to get thicker and longer lashes, your best bet is to get a prescription.

It was originally formulated as eye drops to treat glaucoma, but doctors quickly noticed another unintended benefit: its ability to grow longer, thicker eyelashes.

After a few iterations and ingredient refinements, Latisse was born, using the active ingredient called bimatoprost to help grow your existing lashes and stimulate the growth of new hairs in four to six weeks.

As with any medication, there are side effects to take into consideration before painting your whole eye with the stuff, so always read reviews and ask your doctor first. Your doctor needs to make sure it won’t interfere with other medications you’re taking or have a negative effect on your eyes.

Besides, according to Dr. Haberman, if the serum gets inside the eye, those with lighter eyes could notice a change in the color of their irises after repeat exposure. In other words, your baby blues could end up brown if you’re not applying the product carefully, thinly, and only to your lash lines.

Other risks: A growth serum can also cause discoloration of the skin and/or irritation and puffiness of the lid if it seeps into your eye. Of course, like all side effects, these are possibilities. Some people can use lash serums without any issues.

To grow longer lashes, you have to be consistent and patient; and once you stop using the serum, so does the growth. It’s up to you if all the work is truly worth it.

(SD-Agencies)